Starting with the next application cycle in February 2009, AACN's support of education takes another visionary step. Our scholarship program will broaden its focus to support career enrichment. This new vision of support for education will embrace pathways to learn new skills that reach beyond traditional academic education. Programs outside of nursing may qualify when the link to outcomes of nursing practice is made.
Beginning in 2009, scholarship applicants will submit an individual professional development plan as the basis for their request. They will be asked to show why they have chosen their proposed plan and how it will make a difference in their professional goals. Applicants will assess their knowledge and skill gaps then describe the desired learning outcomes and how they will evaluate their success.
Areas of particular focus include communication, collaboration, mediation, leadership and governance, organizational effectiveness, informatics, influencing the political process, safety and quality. Scholarships will not be given for clinical learning such as attending the National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition or preparing for clinical certification.
Courses that are part of a nursing or non-nursing academic degree program may qualify when the link to the individual development plan is made. Nurse managers seeking BSN or master's degrees are encouraged to consider this new opportunity.
Detailed information will be posted on this Web site after January 15, 2009.
AACN is proud to support additional scholarship opportunities for nursing students who have not yet received their RN license through the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA). To receive an application for these scholarships please contact NSNA via their web site or at 718-210-0705. The application deadline is January 16, 2009.
